Electrode for therapeutical apparatus.



F. M. & M; H. KIDDER.

ELECTRODE FOR THBRAPEUTIGAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1914.

1,122,947. Y Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

WITNESSES I INVENTORS I rdvwzsm. K6060567- ATTORNEYS THE NoQRls PETERSCO.. PHDTULITHO Y. WASHINGTON. D, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. KIDDER AND MILTON H. KIDDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRODE FOR THERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed August 11, 1914.

To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS M. KIDDER and MILTON H. KIDDER, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of the city of New York, borough ofManhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new andImproved Electrode for Therapeutical Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to vacuum tubes, and more especially forelectrodes for electro-therapeutical uses.

The general objects of the invention are to improve the. constructionof. electrodes or vacuum tubes so as to be more reliable andsatisfactory in use, comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufactureand of better design than those heretofore constructed.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improvedelectrode especially adapted for use in a handle or carrier of anydesired type, such, for instance, as that disclosed in our priorapplication for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial Number810,812, filed January 7, 1914, for improvements in high frequencytherapeutical apparatus, the design of the electrode being such thatthere is no tendency of the electrode to turn as the contact facethereof is rubbed over an afflicted part. In some electrodes asheretofore proposed the contact surface of the bulb end is disposedwholly to one side of the axis of the stem or tube of the electrode, sothat the electrode turns in its holder about the stem as an axis, thebulb end of the tube being, as it were, a crank, whereby pressureapplied thereto during the rubbing of the electrode over an affiictedpart produces a rotative effect of the electrode as a whole. Thisobjection is overcome by the present invention by reason of the factthat the center of the flat or contacting face of the bulb of theelectrode is coincident with the axis of the stem, and at the same timethe said contacting or applying surface of the bulb is obliquelydisposed to the axis of the electrode stem. It will thus be seen that atno time will there be developed a couple of forces tending to rotate theelectrode, as the flat surface of the bulb in being rubbed over anafllicted part is subjected to two opposing forces at opposite sides ofthe center and of equal magnitude,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914:.

Serial No. 856,194.

so that there is no tendency to a rotative effect.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is to behad to the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in. all the views, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the electrode mounted in the handle ofa therapeutical apparatus, Fig. 2. is a side view of the electrode; andFig. 3 is an end; view of the electrode.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the handle of the applicator ortherapeutical apparatus, said handle being of such design as to includethe electrical instrumentalities for producing the high frequencycurrents that generate the ultra-violet rays within the electrode B,such electrode having its metallic tip I inserted in the socket 2 in theend of the handle A. The current is derived from a suitable sourcethrough a cord conductor 3 which extends into the handle. As to theinstrumentalities contained in the handle, reference is to be had to theapplication hereinbefore mentioned.

The electrode B comprises an evacuated tube consisting of a stem 4having on one end the metal tip 1 and shaped at its opposite end into abulb 5. This bulb 5 is provided with a flat surface 6 which is pressedinto contact with the part of the patient to be treated, and rubbed overthe afflicted part. This surface 6 is disposed obliquely to the axis ofthe electrode, and the axial line a, b intersects the surface 6 at thecenter 7 thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By reason of thisrelation of the contacting surface 6 of the electrode to the axis of thestem, the electrode can be rubbed over the body of the patient withoutany tendency of the electrode to turn, since the friction betweenone-half of the surface 6 and the affiicted part tending to turn theelectrode is equally opposed by the friction between the other half ofthe surface 6 and the afflicted part. Thus, in Fig. 3, let it be assumedthat the electrode is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 0,whereby the friction between the upper half at, e, f and the body of thepatient tends to rotate the electrode anti-clockwise, as indicated bythe arrow 0', while the friction between the lower half d, g, 7 of thesurface 6 of the electrode is subjected by frictional contact with thebody of the patient to a turning effect in a clockwise direction, asindicated by the arrow 0 and as these turning effects are equal andopposite there will be no rotation of the electrode, no matter what themotion of the electrode is on the surface being treated. Consequently,the electrode can be held steadily,

whereby the treatment of the patient is greatly facilitated and theannoyance due to the turning of the electrode constructed as heretoforeproposed is entirely avoided.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, and while we have described the device which we now considerto be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood thatthe device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may bemade when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electro-therapeutical apparatus of the character describedcomprising a handle having a socket, an electrode having a stemextending into the socketand formed at its extremity with a bulb havinga flat treating surface disposed obliquely to the axis of the stem andhaving its center coincident with such axis.

2. A11 electro-therapeutical apparatus comprising a handle having asocket of round cross-section, and an electrode having a stem of roundcross-section and provided with a bulb having a flat surface disposed atan angle to the axis of the stem, and the approximate center of the saidsurface being coincident with such axis. 7

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANCIS M. KIDDER.

MILTON H. KIDDER. l/Vitnesses CHATTIN BRADWAY, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C." v

